Mission Start [Jessica]

[Thoma Hirako]

He took the files and put them back where they belonged for good measure, but at least they had copies as some proof. When they left, he closed the door and headed past the other officer, nodding to him, leaving it at that as they headed out.

[Jessica Jane]

Jess, for her part, tried to ignore the idiot cop. She didn't like the look on his face, nor what she was sure was racing through his mind. That entire bit had disgusted her. She might have been a bum, but she was an honest bum, dangit.

Once they had gotten past the Alpha Cop and back onto their beat, Jess turned to Thoma and asked about their next move. "So how do we get in contact with this contact of yours? Time's a-wastin'."

[Thoma Hirako]

"When we get to the car, I'll call him," he replied, opening the door for the two of them, and then opening the car door for her, before going around to his side and getting in, pulling out his cellphone and calling.

"It's me; I need a favor. Find the location of an Officer Kido." He waited, "Yeah, that one. Thanks."

He hung up and looked to Jessica, "Well, it'll take time."

[Jessica Jane]

"Joy."

That about summed it up. Jess frowned at the outside world as she settled herself into the car and then buckled up for the coming ride. Abruptly, something that they should do hit her. She pulled the stack of papers from her pocket and then fanned them out to study the names.

"We should probably look up what information we can about these other murders while we wait... see if we can establish an MO or something." Jess shot Thoma a quick look. "You got an internet connection in here or something?"

[Thoma Hirako]

"We'll head to my apartment," he said, "We can do that there. But that's a good idea; an MO, any link between the deceased, anything."

They started to go.

[Jessica Jane]

"Man, you'd think with all the cool SPD gizmos that you have to play around with, someone would have thought to include a basic internet chip." Jess quipped. "What would you do for a GPS if your zords ever got lost?"

She would be honest, that was more than funny enough to think about. She found it hilarious, personally.

[Thoma Hirako]

He shook his head, "This isn't my car, this man isn't in my employ all the time. This is just a rented vehicle with a driver I sometimes use who doesn't mind taking me around. It's not my problem if there's no internet here," he told her, feeling that that's what she was getting at.

[Jessica Jane]

Yeesh. Way to miss a joke... actually... did Thoma have much of a sense of humor? She could only remember him actually laughing once and he seemed pretty dead serious. She frowned and shook her head.

"Yeah, that's what we call a 'joke'. Seriously, lighten up a bit. To look at you, I'd think that the sky is falling." She hesitated a moment and then decided to clarify. "That's another joke."

[Thoma Hirako]

"I get that," he said, shaking his head, "I had no idea the first was a joke. Not much of a sense of humor," he explained. He didn't really need one; it was better being serious, he always figured. It helped keep him clear of mind so he could work.

[Jessica Jane]

"Yeah, then all that stress and drive piles up until you get sick and end up in the hospital." Jess pointed out. "Trust me on that one, I've seen it multiple times. The human mind isn't capable of staying serious forever. It'll burn out eventually if you keep it in that gear."

Great, now she was playing psychiatrist. Seriously... what was her deal with Thoma?

[Thoma Hirako]

He smiled, shaking his head, "No, I don't believe that. I'll be fine. And besides, I do have the occasional humor, mostly dry, though."

He doubted she would ever hear his humor; it was rare. It helped sometimes, but most of the time it didn't matter to him.

[Jessica Jane]

"That's what Alexander the Great said after a hard night partying in the rain." Jess said, rolling her eyes for emphasis. "Didn't work out so well for him. But, whatever. If you want to put yourself in an early grave, go right ahead and ignore the biology major. No skin off my nose."

She grit her teeth after that remark. Stupid. She shouldn't have given that sort of information away... but it was too late to take it back now.

[Thoma Hirako]

"How do you know things like this?" he asked, wondering if it had to do with her past, or just something she had picked up.

[Jessica Jane]

Thankfully, he didn't seem to pick up on her slip up. That was good... maybe if she was quick she could gloss over it all before he thought too much about it. It was worth a shot.

"It's called High School, Einstein. I payed attention throughout it." She said, oblivious to the fact that he was taking her all too seriously about this.

[Thoma Hirako]

"They taught that much?" he questioned, shaking his head, "Not when I was there."